You know those days when you’re craving a Caesar salad but want something a bit more filling? That’s exactly how these bacon chicken Caesar wraps came to be in my kitchen. Back when my kids were younger, they’d turn their noses up at regular salads, but wrap anything in a tortilla and suddenly it became “cool” food.
I started making these wraps as an easy way to get my family to eat more greens, and now they’ve become our go-to lunch option. The trick is to cook the chicken and bacon ahead of time – I usually do this on Sunday afternoons while catching up on my favorite shows. Then, whenever hunger strikes during the week, we’re just a few minutes away from having these wraps ready to go.
Why You’ll Love These Chicken Caesar Wraps
- Quick lunch option – These wraps come together in just 10-20 minutes, perfect for busy weekday lunches or a fast dinner when you’re short on time.
- No cooking required – Using pre-cooked chicken and bacon means you only need to assemble – no actual cooking needed!
- Portable meal – These wraps are perfect for lunch boxes, picnics, or eating on-the-go – just wrap in foil and you’re all set.
- Customizable ingredients – You can easily adjust the amounts of each ingredient to match your taste preferences, or swap in different proteins like turkey or rotisserie chicken.
What Kind of Tortilla Should I Use?
Regular flour tortillas are the classic choice for wraps, but you’ve got plenty of options depending on your preferences. The standard 12-inch burrito-size tortilla is ideal since it gives you enough space to pack in all those tasty fillings without everything spilling out. If you’re watching your carbs, whole wheat tortillas work great, or you could try low-carb alternatives like spinach or tomato wraps. Just make sure whatever tortilla you choose is fresh and pliable – if it’s too stiff or dry, warm it briefly in the microwave under a damp paper towel to make it easier to roll without cracking.
Options for Substitutions
This wrap recipe is super adaptable and you can switch things up based on what you have in your kitchen:
- Flour tortilla: You can use any wrap you like – whole wheat tortillas, spinach wraps, or even low-carb alternatives like lettuce leaves for a keto-friendly version. Just warm them slightly to make them more pliable.
- Romaine lettuce: While romaine is classic for Caesar wraps, you can swap it with iceberg for extra crunch, or mixed greens for more variety. Just avoid delicate lettuces that might get soggy.
- Bottled Caesar dressing: Feel free to use Greek yogurt-based Caesar dressing for a lighter option, or make your own. Ranch dressing can work in a pinch too!
- Bacon: Turkey bacon works great as a lighter option. You could also use pre-made bacon bits, or skip it altogether if you prefer.
- Croutons: No croutons? Try crushed tortilla chips, toasted bread crumbs, or even sunflower seeds for that needed crunch.
- Parmesan cheese: Pre-grated parmesan works fine here, or try romano cheese. For a dairy-free version, nutritional yeast can add a similar cheesy flavor.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest challenge when making Caesar wraps is dealing with soggy tortillas, which happens when the dressing seeps into the wrap – to prevent this, try laying your lettuce down first as a barrier between the tortilla and wet ingredients. Another common mistake is overfilling your wrap, which can lead to messy eating and torn tortillas – stick to the recommended portions and leave about an inch of space around the edges for proper rolling. For the best texture, avoid chopping your lettuce too finely as it can become wilted and lose its satisfying crunch, and wait to add the croutons until just before rolling to keep them crispy. If you’re making these wraps ahead of time, keep the dressing separate and add it just before serving to maintain the fresh, crisp texture of all ingredients.
What to Serve With Caesar Wraps?
These bacon chicken caesar wraps are perfect for lunch, and there are lots of easy sides that make the meal even better! A handful of kettle-cooked potato chips adds the perfect crunch, or try some crispy sweet potato fries if you’re feeling fancy. For a healthier option, I like to serve these wraps with a cup of fresh fruit salad or some crunchy carrot and celery sticks with ranch dip. Since the wrap already has lots of flavor from the caesar dressing and bacon, simple sides work best to round out your meal.
Storage Instructions
Prep Ahead: You can prep the components separately to make assembly quick and easy. Cook and crumble the bacon, dice the chicken, and chop the lettuce up to 2 days in advance. Keep each ingredient in separate containers in the fridge until you’re ready to make your wraps.
Keep Fresh: If you’ve already assembled your wrap, it’s best to eat it within 4 hours to prevent the tortilla from getting soggy. You can wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge, but remember that the lettuce and croutons will gradually lose their crunch.
Pack for Lunch: For the best packed lunch experience, keep the wet ingredients (dressing, tomatoes) separate from the dry ones. Pack the tortilla, lettuce, and other ingredients separately and assemble your wrap just before eating. This way, everything stays fresh and crispy!
Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
Cooking Time | 0-5 minutes |
Total Time | 10-20 minutes |
Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 600-700
- Protein: 30-35 g
- Fat: 35-40 g
- Carbohydrates: 45-50 g
Ingredients
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
- 2 tablespoons caesar dressing from a bottle
- 1 slice bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 tablespoon tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 tablespoon parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 4 large croutons, roughly chopped
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 12-inch flour tortilla
Step 1: Prepare the Salad Mixture
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the following ingredients: cooked chicken pieces, chopped lettuce, Caesar dressing, crispy bacon bits, diced tomatoes, grated Parmesan cheese, and a touch of fresh ground black pepper.
Gently mix everything together until well combined.
Lastly, stir in crumbled croutons for added crunch.
Step 2: Warm the Tortilla
Take a flour tortilla and place it in the microwave.
Heat it for about 10 seconds to make it more pliable and ready for wrapping.
Step 3: Assemble the Wrap
Lay the warmed tortilla on a flat surface.
Add the prepared salad mixture along the center of the tortilla.
Fold in two opposite sides of the tortilla to enclose the filling, then roll it up snugly like a burrito.
Step 4: Slice and Serve
If desired, secure the wrap by inserting a large toothpick into each half to hold it together.
With a sharp, serrated knife, carefully slice the wrap in half.
Your delicious Caesar salad wrap is now ready to serve and enjoy!